The report from the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) Infra on mobility in the national capital is full of “good news,” according to the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault. His colleague in Finance, Eric Girard, believes that the tram proposal is financially feasible.
Accosted at the entrance to a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday in Quebec, Prime Minister François Legault affirmed that he intended to react to the Caisse’s decision on Thursday or Friday. “I will see you over the next few days. I will answer all your questions,” he said.
But already, even before the head of government announces his priorities, the Integrated Express Transport Circuit (CITÉ) project is attracting the interest of elected officials from the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ). “There are some great projects. This report is good news,” said Minister Geneviève Guilbault without adding anything on Wednesday.
The tram project recommended by the Caisse is estimated at around $7 billion. By adding a rapid bus service (SRB) on both banks, dedicated lanes and a tunnel for the tram, this bill could rise to more than 15 billion. Amounts that do not give a chill to the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard.
“Yes, we have the means if those are the decisions that are taken,” he agreed on Wednesday.
A few minutes earlier, the minister responsible for Infrastructure, Jonatan Julien, had not hidden his satisfaction with the Fund’s conclusions.
“We have before us a fifteen-year master plan, phased, structured. For the Capitale-Nationale region, it’s good. Better service to the suburbs, reserved lanes, express trains which fall back on a structuring network, a tram which leaves from Le Gendre to the start of Charlesbourg,” he listed.
“I think we have a serious study before us,” he continued. “For me, it’s very revealing, and then it’s positive. »
Disavowed by the Caisse in its report, the project for a third link between Quebec and Lévis caused very little discussion on Wednesday in the CAQ ranks. When questioned about this, ministers like Mme Guilbault or Éric Caire said they wanted to read the report before commenting on it. However, CAQ elected officials received a presentation on the said report on Monday.
Further details will follow.